The Cost of Medicare Spine Surgery
In this age of Healthcare cost transparency, few people really know what the US Government is really paying the doctors. In 2013, Bedlani et al published a fascination article called The Patient Perceptions of Physician Reimbursement for Spine Surgery. In the study, 200 consecutive patients of an outpatient clinic were provided an anonymous survey […]
Cervical Radiculopathy
What is Cervical Radiculopathy? The most common cause of Cervical Radiculopathy, a herniated nucleus pulposus (herniated disc), which pinches one of the nerves in the neck. Other causes of cervical radiculopathy include bone spurs, fractures, infections and tumors. Fortunately, most of the time, the causes are not as serious as the latter three. What are […]
Are Restrictions Post Discectomy Necessary?
After lumbar disk surgery, there is a common misconception that all future activities must be restricted. More and more evidence indicates that the vast majority of post lumbar discectomy patients can and should be able to return back to all activities. Medical Science is a constant evolution of thoughts and processes. Thirty years ago, patients […]
Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Works
The results of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion are excellent. I find it strange that I must defend the results, but we are in a new era of information. Some would call it mis-information. If you spend time researching cervical discectomy surgery, you now see a trend where certain entities are advertising the radical nature of […]
Spine Surgery? Sometimes, it is better to wait.
If you have a serious life or limb threatening condition, you need to trust your physicians and get spine surgery if that is their recommendation. If you have a serious life or limb threatening condition, I hope you are not reading this blog, and instead getting medical care NOW. For the rest of you, please […]
Most Sacroiliac Joints do not Hurt
As a Spine Surgeon, I am constantly asked to find a surgical solution for various back complaints. People come into the office with various test results including MRI’s, CAT scans, nerve tests and x-rays. A certain percentage have already had surgery, including lumbar spinal fusion, and remain frustrated by the continued pain. Lately, I have […]
